第63章 TOLLESTON BUTTS IN(3)

"Well, boys," said Lovell, as we came in after picketing our horses, "Reed, here, wins out, but we're just as much at sea as ever.I've looked the situation over from a dozen different viewpoints, and the only thing to do is graze across country and tender our cattle at Fort Buford.It's my nature to look on the bright side of things, and yet I'm old enough to know that justice, in a world so full of injustice, is a rarity.By allowing the earnest-money paid at Dodge to apply, some kind of a compromise might be effected, whereby I could get rid of two of these herds, with three hundred saddle horses thrown back on my hands at the Yellowstone River.I might dispose of the third herd here and give the remuda away, but at a total loss of at least thirty thousand dollars on the Buford cattle.But then there's my bond to The Western Supply Company, and if this herd of Morris's fails to respond on the day of delivery, I know who will have to make good.An Indian uprising, or the enforcement of quarantine against Texas fever, or any one of a dozen things might tie up the herd, and September the 15th come and go and no beef offered on the contract.I've seen outfits start out and never get through with the chuck-wagon, even.Sutton's advice is good;we'll tender the cattle.There is a chance that we'll get turned down, but if we do, I have enough indemnity money in my possession to temper the wind if the day of delivery should prove a chilly one to us.I think you had all better start in the morning."The old man's review of the situation was a rational one, in which Jim Reed and the rest of us concurred.Several of the foremen, among them myself, were anxious to start at once, but Lovell urged that we kill a beef before starting and divide it up among the six outfits.He also proposed to Flood that they go into town during the afternoon and freely announce our departure in the morning, hoping to force any issue that might be smouldering in the enemy's camp.The outlook for an early departure was hailed with delight by the older foremen, and we younger and more impulsive ones yielded.The cook had orders to get up something extra for dinner, and we played cards and otherwise lounged around until the midday meal was announced as ready.A horse had been gotten up for Lovdll to ride and was on picket, all the relieved men from the attached herd were at Bob's wagon for dinner, and jokes and jollity graced the occasion.But near the middle of the noon repast, some one sighted a mounted man coming at a furious pace for the camp, and shortly the horseman dashed up and inquired for Lovell.We all arose, when the messenger dismounted and handed my employer a letter.Tearing open the missive, the old man read it and turned ashy pale.The message was from Mike Sutton, stating that a fourth member of the ring had arrived during the forenoon, accompanied by a United States marshal from the federal court at Omaha; that the officer was armed with an order of injunctive relief; that he had deputized thirty men whom Tolleston had gathered, and proposed taking possession of the two herds in question that afternoon.

"Like hell they will," said Don Lovell, as he started for his horse.His action was followed by every man present, including the one-armed guest, and within a few minutes thirty men swung into saddles, subject to orders.The camps of the two herds at issue were about four and five miles down and across the river, and no doubt Tolleston knew of their location, as they were only a little more than an hour's ride from Ogalalla.There was no time to be lost, and as we hastily gathered around the old man, he said: "Ride for your outfits, boys, and bring along every man you can spare.We'll meet north of the river about midway between Quince's and Tom's camps.Bring all the cartridges you have, and don't spare your horses going or coming."Priest's wagon was almost on a line with mine, though south of the river.Fortunately I was mounted on one of the best horses in my string, and having the farthest to go, shook the kinks out of him as old Paul and myself tore down the mesa.After passing The Rebel's camp, I held my course as long as the footing was solid, but on encountering the first sand, crossed the river nearly opposite the appointed rendezvous.The North Platte was fordable at any point, flowing but a midsummer stage of water, with numerous wagon crossings, its shallow channel being about one hundred yards wide.I reined in my horse for the first time near the middle of the stream, as the water reached my saddle-skirts;when I came out on the other side, Priest and his boys were not a mile behind me.As I turned down the river, casting a backward glance, squads of horsemen were galloping in from several quarters and joining a larger one which was throwing up clouds of dust like a column of cavalry.In making a cut-off to reach my camp, I crossed a sand dune from which I sighted the marshal's posse less than two miles distant.My boys were gambling among themselves, not a horse under saddle, and did not notice my approach until I dashed up.Three lads were on herd, but the rest, including the wrangler, ran for their mounts on picket, while Parent and myself ransacked the wagon for ammunition.

Fortunately the supply of the latter was abundant, and while saddles were being cinched on horses, the cook and I divided the ammunition and distributed it among the men.The few minutes'